Screen Talk: More doors open for Dormer

(© Chris Floyd)

Natalie Dormer (pictured) is in negotiations to join The Counselor, the Cormac McCarthy-written drug drama that already boasts Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt among its players.

The Ridley Scott-directed drama is set along the Mexican border.

Vega graces them with her presence

Paz Vega has been cast as the tempestuous opera singer Maria Callas in Grace of Monaco opposite Nicole Kidman who will turn out as Grace Kelly, the Hollywood actress who became Princess Grace of Monaco. Olivier Dahan, who was behind the camera for the Edith Piaf biopic La vie en rose, is directing the project.

A deal with the master of disaster

Rather than say urgh at the suggestion of a young adult version of Fifty Shades of Grey, Warner Bros has come out on top of a bidding war for the rights to Beautiful Disaster. The Jamie McGuire story follows a teetotaller and the tattoo-covered guy she makes a bet with. McGuire sold more than 200,000 copies of her book.

Fraser makes a fearless father

Brendan Fraser will star in writer-director Damian Lee's action-thriller Split Decision. He'll play a father who must defend his two children from a pair of murderers. Amy Price-Francis appears as the children's mother with the offspring played by Holly Deveaux and Christian Martin.

A highly rated rock'n'roll tale

Singer-actress Selena Gomez is lined up to star opposite Nat Wolff in the offbeat coming-of-age comedy Parental Guidance Suggested. Austin Stowell will co-star as the overbearing boyfriend of Gomez's character. The story centres on a 16-year-old (Wolff) and his crush (Gomez) as they embark on a rock'n'roll-themed odyssey.

Barrymore's happy endings

Drew Barrymore will be behind the camera to direct The End, an end-of-the-world drama for Warner Bros. The project is billed as uplifting and humanistic rather than a downer. Aron Eli Coleite's script storylines will include a 60-something radio personality in London intent on broadcasting until the end.